Jujutsu Kaisen: Hourglass - CH0

-PROLOGUE-

I died.

How? 

Well, nothing particularly amazing if that's what you were expecting, just a heart attack that in my personal perspective came out of nowhere. I mean, I was a relatively healthy guy, with a somewhat fit build and a gym membership that saw more than two visits a week. 

I guess in the end it doesn't matter whether or not you live a healthy lifestyle, death's a bitch and it will still come for you whenever it feels like it, and that's life for you.

I'm a little pissed though, I was barely in my early twenties... I was just starting to enjoy life, I had finally gotten a good paying job... and now well... it doesn't matter, does it?

The crazy part is, so far... none of this is really the most shocking part, I mean... have any of you stopped to wonder how in the actual fuck am I still having these ramblings when I supposed to be six feet under?

Well, here's the kicker... apparently death is optional. True death, that is, ain't that a blast?

You see, right after I kicked the old bucket, instead of ceasing to exist, or going to hell or heaven... or whatever floats your boat, I opened my eyes inside a empty room, and when I say empty, I don't mean 'single guy apartment' kind of empty, I mean completely empty, with nothing but blinding white as far as I could see.

And that's not even the most shocking part.

Granted, my shockingmometer was pretty broken by this point, but the thing is... after dying, a sudden death at that, and waking up in an empty white room, the last thing I expected was a white, featureless creature, appearing in front of me, with a terrifying smile on what I assumed was his face.

And that's where I am now, staring at a... who knows what, wondering what will happen.

"Welcome," The Thing spoke, its voice echoing in the empty space, neither friendly nor hostile. "You must be quite confused." 

Confused was an understatement. I stared, trying to comprehend how the chains thus far, led to... this. "Are you...God?" I asked, slowly.

The Thing tilted its head, or at least, it conveyed a motion suggesting contemplation before answering. "God, you say? That is a title many have ascribed to forces beyond their understanding. But am I the God you speak of? No, I am not, I am nothing but a reflection of the universe's fundamental essence. I am what you see when you peer beyond the veil of your own existence, when you search for the core of all things.."

So... God basically?

You know what, don't question the possibly almighty creature in front of you, if that thing says he isn't God, then he isn't. He can be Taylor Swift as far as I am concerned, as long as he doesn't obliterate me.

"Ok... so... where am I?" I asked.

"This," The Thing began, gesturing to the nothingness that surrounded us, "Is where the lines blur between existence and non-existence. It's where the souls that have questions find themselves." 

I suppose that makes sense, if someone had questions right now, it was me.  

"So... a Q&A before dying?" I replied, wondering what exactly would happened once my... supposed questions were answered.

"Not quite... Death as you've experienced it, is but a transition, not an end. And it seems you're not quite ready to embrace that transition fully," The Thing continued, its smile now appearing less terrifying and more enigmatic. 

This... is starting to feel like an Isekai, and if those are real, there's a serious problem at the core of creation, I mean, most of those guys that get reincarnated are total degenerates, and the ones that aren't, are psychopaths, sometimes they are both.

I wonder what that says about me.

"A transition, well ain't that poetic?" I replied, taking a deep breath. "I would've been happy with not having my life being taken so soon."

The Thing remained silent for a moment, as if contemplating my words. Then, with a tone that suggested both an offer and a challenge, it spoke again. "What if I told you that your story doesn't have to end here? That you could have another chance at the life you've left unfinished?" 

"This is an Isekai... isn't it?" I replied, staring at the Thing. 

The Thing chuckled, a sound that seemed to resonate through the endless expanse of the white void. "I suppose that's one way to see it. Every soul has its path, and some stories are too important to end prematurely. But be warned, the cost of returning is not light. Everything has its price."

"What's the price?" I asked, "And for that matter, am I being resurrected back in my world?"

It kind of felt like I was about to make a deal with the devil, so I might as well have all the terms before making a decision, I was desperate, not an idiot.

"Knowledge," The Thing replied, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light. "In exchange for your return to the world of the living, you shall forget. As for your second question, no, you won't be resurrected in the same universe, but in one you know quite well."

As long as it isn't Warhammer 40K I am game.

"Where?" I asked. "And... would I get any cool powers if I accept?"

"Where? That is for you to discover, and power? That is for you to decide," The Thing replied cryptically. "But know this: the balance of give and take is paramount. For what you receive, something of equal value must be given up. So, are you willing to pay the price for another chance?"

That doesn't answer much, a bit... worrying; too, but considering the worst case scenario is dying again, I suppose the deal isn't that bad. That being said, there's a chance I might be walking into a terrible deal, that or I'm in a coma and this nothing but a very elaborated dream.

Beyond that, and how farfetched this entire scenario felt like, the situation remained the same, I had but two choices. One, take the deal, and see what happens, two take the alternative, which I had no idea what it was.

"Very well, I accept," I replied, deciding that anything other than just... dying was better for the time being, and I mean, who knows, I might end up in a world without bad things.

"How much knowledge are you willing to give away?" The Thing inquired, tilting its head curiously, as if it were weighing my soul with the very question.

If I knew what world I was going to, I might know how much I was actually willing to give away, but seeing White and Creepy isn't all that direct with his approach, I had no idea how much my knowledge was actually worth. That being said, the deal is one of equivalent exchange, meaning the more I give, the more I'll receive, at least according to the terms stated by this Thing, so even if my knowledge about this world happens to be valuable, something equally valuable would be given back to me.

This brings a dilemma to my situation.

Does knowledge win over power, and if so... is power useful without the knowledge of the world?

That was question I didn't know the answer to.

I guess in a way, if I give all my knowledge... it would be like rediscovering whatever world I'm about to explore. How bad this is, depends entirely on the world.

"Take it all away," I answered, letting out a sigh. "I have no idea if any of this is real, and if so... where are you sending me, but I consider myself a betting man, so I'm all in."

The Thing's eyes, seemed to gleam with a sort of morbid satisfaction. Its smile stretched impossibly wide, and it extended a hand, a hand that morphed and rippled as if unsure of its own form, towards my forehead. "Then, this binding vow is sealed, for the chance of a new life, and the power to live it fully, I take away all your knowledge of the world of Jujutsu Kaisen. Good luck~"